Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has announced an unprecedented move to shift the country's Christmas celebrations to October 1. The decision, made during a televised speech, comes amid intense political turmoil following a disputed election in July, where Maduro was controversially declared the winner for a third six-year term. The announcement has sparked criticism from both opposition leaders and ordinary citizens, many of whom view the holiday shift as a blatant attempt to divert attention from Venezuela’s escalating crises.
In his announcement, Maduro declared, “It’s September, and it already smells like Christmas,” emphasizing that the move was a gesture of gratitude to the people of Venezuela. He further stated that the early Christmas would bring "peace, happiness, and security" to the nation, sentiments starkly contrasting the current reality for most Venezuelans.
Maduro Moves Christmas To October 1st LOL pic.twitter.com/Ni7PiVkzYV
— Eric Deters (@bulllaw) September 4, 2024
The opposition, led by Edmundo González Urrutia, Maduro’s main challenger in the July elections, has decried the holiday shift as a political ploy to distract the population from Maduro’s controversial electoral victory. The U.S. and several Latin American nations have backed the opposition's claim that the election results were fraudulent. This dispute has led to mass protests across the country, with over 2,400 people, including journalists and opposition figures, being detained amid a government crackdown.
Christmas is a highly significant holiday in predominantly Catholic Venezuela, and the decision to move it up by three months has not been well received by all. Many citizens are frustrated, stating that the political and economic instability makes any celebration hollow. José Ernesto Ruiz, a resident of Caracas, voiced the sentiments of many when he said, “Christmas is supposed to be a time of joy, family reunions, and parties, but without money and with this political crisis, who can believe there will be an early Christmas?”.
🔴 I swear western media is written by chimpanzees. They're breathlessly saying Venezuela's Maduro just declared that Christmas will be in October because he's trying to pacify the nation. In reality he's "moved Christmas" every year since 2015 and basically all it means is that… pic.twitter.com/pt4gByb7GJ
— Lee Camp [Redacted] (@LeeCamp) September 4, 2024
This is not the first time Maduro has rescheduled Christmas. In 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, he shifted the holiday season to mid-October in an effort to boost the national mood during a time of severe economic and health challenges. In each instance, critics have argued that the move is more about political optics than genuine holiday cheer.
The holiday announcement comes on the heels of an arrest warrant issued for opposition leader González Urrutia on terrorism-related charges, which his supporters view as a politically motivated attempt to sideline him. Maduro’s government has consistently faced accusations of authoritarianism, cronyism, and corruption, which many say have crippled the nation’s economy.
Venezuela’s ongoing political chaos and economic collapse have left millions struggling with poverty, hyperinflation, and a failing infrastructure. Basic services such as healthcare, electricity, and water are unreliable, and food shortages remain widespread. According to local reports, Maduro’s holiday maneuver will do little to alleviate the hardships faced by ordinary citizens, many of whom are more concerned with surviving than celebrating.
International reactions to Maduro’s announcement have also been largely critical. The Venezuelan Episcopal Conference (VEC), a key religious institution in the country, condemned the decision, arguing that Christmas should not be used for political gain. They released a statement emphasizing that the holiday traditionally begins on December 25, not at the whims of political leaders.
